Business leaders have welcomed the election of Labour’s Marvin Rees as Mayor of Bristol and pledged to work with him to drive through much-needed changes in key issues such as housing, skills and transport.
They will also back him in the final negotiations over the devolution deal to transfer powers to the West. 
Marvin Rees, pictured, was elected by 68,750 votes to former mayor George Ferguson’s 39,577.
Speaking after officially being sworn in Mr Rees said he planned to open a ‘city office’ to tackle key challenges such as building 2,000 homes a year, making the city cleaner, rolling back inequality and child poverty levels, and creating more jobs.
Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative chief executive James Durie said: “We wish to congratulate Marvin Rees on his appointment to lead our city, and are looking forward to working with him and the newly elected councillors over the next four years and beyond to make Bristol a better place to live and work for all.
“Marvin now has a strong mandate to deliver on some of the major challenges facing Bristol – from housing through to skills and transport. There is also a big opportunity for Bristol with a devolution deal ready to be signed off with central government. These are all priorities that the business community recognises as being critical to solve, as set out in our Mayoral Manifesto.”
He said Bristol would need to work together to make sure more homes are built and to tackle the “very significant” skills and infrastructure needs it faces.
“Marvin has been elected on a platform of bringing people from all parts of the city together. The business community is keen to play its part here,” said Mr Durie.
“As a small but global city we need to build strong healthy futures for all through a thriving economy. Bristol is recognised as one of the best place to start a new business and to live but we now need to build on that to create new opportunities and meet the challenges ahead.”
Regional senior director at property agency Bilfinger GVA, Jo Davis, said the significant increase in the electoral turnout to 45% was hugely encouraging and showed the city recognised the value and importance of a city mayor.
“This sends a strong message to Government of the city’s commitment to devolution. The strength of vote and electoral turnout is a critical milestone as we move towards devolution,” she said.
“Marvin Rees as our new mayor will bring a very different style of leadership to the city, building on the strong, stable platform and the positive economic trajectory. I am confident Marvin will continue to successfully promote Bristol on the national stage ensuring prosperity is sustained.”
But she said the challenge Bristol faced, with all UK Core Cities now competing for same investment and occupiers, often through enhanced devolution powers could not be underestimated.
“Bristol needs strong outward leadership showcasing our successes, building on established relationships and delivering on ground to ensure our position as the only city outside of London to positively contribute to the GDP is not eroded,” she said.
“Marvin’s manifesto promise ‘ensuring everyone benefits from Bristol’s success’ makes his ambitions for a more inclusive governance very clear, and this will be a differentiator and challenge to realise going forward.
“His affordable housing manifesto commitment to deliver 800 affordable homes per year is an uphill challenge for any politician or city. A council-owned company and direct delivery is an interesting model but it will also require the city to positively engage with the property industry and our neighbouring administrations to release land for new homes – if affordable housing numbers are to be improved.
“It is an exciting time for the city and change can only be a good thing and we all look forward to working with the new mayor.”
Property agency Colliers International head of Bristol office Tim Davies called Marvin Rees’ election “a pivotal result for the city, and also for the wider region given the historic £1bn devolution deal for the West of England”.
“He has a tough act to follow in succeeding George Ferguson, who as an independent mayor unfettered by party politics, brought about tangible progress during his time in office, ranging from delivering the Arena to bringing a new momentum to decision-making after years of political infighting.
“The city and wider region has undoubtedly benefitted from that fact that George was not aligned to a political party, and I sincerely hope that the new Labour mayor will not be putting a political agenda ahead of the needs of the city.”
Two weeks ago 40 of Bristol’s most influential business figures lent their names to an open letter backing the re-election of Mr Ferguson as mayor.
